Everybody Loves the Kid Who Dropped His Cymbal

Andrew Pawelczyk barely missed a beat when his cymbals broke during the Star Spangled Banner in the middle of a public assembly. Now, online viewers and the news media are hailing his patriotic response as the YouTube video goes viral.

By the time the bombs should have been “bursting in air”, Andrew’s cymbal was already on the ground, the handle left in his hand. He looked down in amazement, slowly placed the other cymbal on the ground and stood up, slowly, and turned toward the flag and solemnly saluted.

“I wanted to run away,” said Andrew. “But I felt better after I saluted.”